The Stanislaus Sprout

 Many beautiful varieties of shade trees are well-suited to our Central Valley climate. Fall is the perfect time to plant a tree that will provide shade for your landscape for years to come! Small Trees – to 30 feet tallChaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus)This gorgeous deciduous tree has a round or…

 Vampires are mythic undead humans who sleep during the day and hunt for blood at night.  However, we have our own very real and very much alive bloodsucking vampires - mosquitoes! Unlike vampires, some mosquitoes are active during the daytime and may be out with the ghosts, goblins and witches…

 I’ve enjoyed gardening for years. I started by visiting my local garden center each spring and carefully selecting containers of already started plants. I quickly realized that I didn’t need 6 zucchini plants – seriously, with only 2 adults I could have been a cartoon for “gifting” the excess. I also…

 Honeybees (Apis mellifera) are the only bees you may see in your garden year-round. Other bees are seasonal, with different species appearing at different times of the year. Here are three of the California native bees you may see in your garden during September; all are important pollinators:…

 Thinking About Becoming a UC Master Gardener? Here's What You Need to Know The name “UC Master Gardener” might sound intimidating, but don’t let the title fool you. You don’t need to be a gardening expert to apply!  What it really means is: you care about your community, enjoy helping others,…